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here after dark on a winter night to make idle conversation. It cannot be wise to turn him away, no matter what you feel. Let him come up." |
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A moment's consideration convinced Ian that Alinor was right, and Owain, who had come up with the message, was sent down again to show FitzWalter in. The immediate shock of hearing that FitzWalter was to fight in Ian's party having passed, Alinor's complexion had returned to normal, but she kept her eyes lowered to hide the blaze of animosity in them. FitzWalter was a very likely candidate for an attempt to run Ian through. He must be paying in a variety of ways to retain John's favor now that every attempt to retake Normandy had failed. |
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"In what way can I serve you," Ian asked coldly, when Owain had brought a chair and FitzWalter was seated. |
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"Not at all," FitzWalter replied smoothly. "On the contrary, I have come to serve you, Lord Ian. I have heard some rather disturbing rumors about this tourney." |
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"Nonsense," Ian snapped, glaring angrily at FitzWalter. The man was a coward and a treacher, but no fool. Doubtless his purpose was to make Alinor as unhappy as possible. "I have the greatest confidence in the honesty of Salisbury and Pembroke, and Arundel is too much a man of honor to lend himself to any irregularity." |
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Ian started to rise, as if to show his guest out, but Alinor said, "Things can be done without the knowledge of the leader of the party. Of course, the rumors may be false. One need not believe them. Still, deliberate deafness can also be a mistake." |
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"As your lady says," continued FitzWalter, "I do not necessarily believe what I have heard, yet There is a knight-errant of the 'loyal opposition' who is suspiciously rich for so young a man and one who has no great name. As with others to whom wealth is unusual, he has spent more than he ought on wine. He hints |
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